Check protector



March 21, 1933. w. c. HlERlNG CHECK PROTECTOR Filed March l5, 1951 www / Nom NEWARK NJ. 3

MERCHANTS WN EWARK TRUST COMPANY 55? TU DRD Patented Mar. 21, 19.33

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. HIERING, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO J. E. MERGOTT COM-VK IPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE CHECK PROTEGTDR Application filed March 13, 1831.

This invention relates to improvements in check protectors, such as are used to mutilate a certain area of the check or other document after the same has been properly filled in, to prevent the altering of any writing or figures included in said area.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a check protector consisting essentially of only two hingedly connected plates, one of which is provided with struckup projections adapted to pass through suitably aligned apertures in the other plate when the plates are brought together, to mutilate an area of the check inserted between said plates.

My invention comprehends the production of a device of the character described which may be conveniently carried in a clothes pocket or in a check book, which is simple in operation and which may be produced at such low cost as to enable banks to furnish it gratis to depositors, as an advertisement, or to be sold for a nominal sum.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure l represents a perspective view of an open check book, showing the application of my improved check protector to the uppermost check.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of my improved check protector in open position.

Figure 8 represents a side elevational view of my device in closed position.

Figure 4 represents a vertical sectional View taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents a top plan view of a check to which my device has been applied.

My improved check protector consists, essentially of two plates l and 2, hingedly connected together in any desired or convenient manner, as by the rolled hinge members 3, which may be formed integral with the lower longitudinal edges of said plates.

The plate l is provided, on its inner face,

0 with a series of struck-up projections 4, par- Seral No. 522,227.

allelled, on the outer face of said plate,by

the marginal backing or re-inforcing flange tures 6 through which the projections 4of the plate 1 are adapted to pass when the plates are brought together, to mutilate an area of the check A inserted therebetween, the plate 2 being kalso provided with a marginal or re-inforcing flange 7, overlying the outer face of said plate, said fiange being provided with a longitudinally arranged guard or recessed portion 8, in alignment with the apertures 6, said recessed portion providing a pocket into which the tips of the projections 4 may eX- tend after passing through the apertures 6 of the plate 2 (see Figure 4).

The plates l and 2 are preferably made of light sheet metal brass, aluminum, steel or the like, andare of such shape as to lend themselves readily to manufacture from sheet metal by suitable dies and, furthermore, the plates are of such structure as to eectively bear advertising matter.

To use the device, the filled-in check A is inserted between the plates, either before or after the check has been removed from its book, and then, the plates 1 and 2 are grasped between the fingers and brought together, causing the projections 4 of the plate l to pierce the check and mutilate the same, to prevent alteration thereof, and to pass through the apertures 6 into the recessed portion 8 of the flange 7 of the plate 2.

The dollar line in checks of various sizes is located at various distances from the lower edge of the checks. By positioning the projections 4 and aligned apertures 6 of my improved check protector at a sufficient distance from the lower edges of the plates l and 2, to be in alignment with the dollar line of checks in which the dollar line is located at the greatest distance from the lower edge of the checks, my device may be used with equal eiiciency in connection with the entire range of check sizes, as the lower edge of the recess or guard 8 of the flange 7 of the plate 2 constitutes a guide, by aligning said edge with the dollar line of any check the device will be in proper position to mutilate the area on the check immediately above the dollar line, in which the amount of the check is Written. 1 It will be apparent that the projections 4 may be arranged on the plate l in other positions to mutilate additional or other areas of the check, as desired.

The plates l and 2 may be provided with marginal recesses 9 9 to facilitate the separation of the plates.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and

not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications Without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A check protector comprising a pair of hingedly connected plates, one of said plates being provided with struck-up projections, the other plate being provided with aligned apertures adapted to receive said projections and being further provided with a marginal reinforcing flange on the outer face thereof having a longitudinal guard offset adjacent to and in alignment With said apertures to receive the tips of said projections after they as have passed through said apertures, when the plates are pressed together, the plates being further provided With marginal recesses t0 facilitate separation of the plates.

This specification signed this 12th day of 4 March, 1931.

WILLIAM C. HIER-ING. 

